The Canadiens look to continue their home dominance of the injury-ravaged
Islanders on Thursday night.

Montreal (30-20-5) has followed a three-game winning streak with consecutive
losses, but the latest effort was one of its worst this season. The Canadiens
gave up a season high in goals Wednesday, falling 8-6 at Boston in a game marred
by seven game misconducts and 182 penalty minutes, including seven to Price for
fighting Bruins’ goalie Tim Thomas(notes).

Montreal is second in the Northeast Division, four points back of Boston.

“(Wednesday) was a big game. A lot of points were on the line. Important
points,” said captain Brian Gionta(notes), who had a goal, an assist and four penalty
minutes for roughing. “It’s just an emotional game, and that’s what you saw out
there.”

Despite allowing a career high in goals, Price is tied for the NHL lead with
a personal-best 26 wins. His 2.43 goals-against average is the lowest of his
four-season career.

It’s unclear if he’ll be back in net or if backup Alex Auld(notes) will get the
nod. Auld is 3-0-0 with a 2.38 GAA in his last four starts, and made 30 saves in
a 3-1 road win over New York (17-29-7) on Oct. 29.

The Canadiens are 14-2-2 the last 18 meetings with the Islanders at Bell
Centre, winning the last three there. They’re also 12-1-3 over the past 16
overall matchups, but fell 4-1 at New York on Dec. 26.

Montreal is among the league’s best at home with an 18-7-4 record.

While Price leads the league in games played by a netminder (49), the
Eastern Conference-worst Islanders have been left with a pair of very
inexperienced goalies for this game.

New York is scheduled to start Mikko Koskinen(notes) for the second consecutive
game after the 22-year-old stopped 21 of 26 shots in Tuesday’s 5-3 loss to
Toronto in his NHL debut. Joel Martin(notes), who has yet to appear in an NHL game,
will be Koskinen’s backup.

Koskinen was pressed into duty after fellow rookie Kevin Poulin(notes) suffered a
dislocated left knee cap during pregame warmups Tuesday.

“There wasn’t much time to do anything. I didn’t even have time to be
nervous,” Koskinen said.

New York added depth in net Wednesday, acquiring Al Montoya(notes) in a trade with
Phoenix.

Montreal’s Tomas Plekanec(notes) has 12 goals and 11 assists his past 16 meetings
with the Islanders, scoring a goal in each of the last four. He leads the team
with 45 points, getting two assists Wednesday.

Defenseman James Wisniewski(notes) will face the Islanders for the first time since
being traded to Montreal for two draft picks in December. He has two goals and
13 assists in 16 games with the Canadiens.

Islanders left wing Matt Moulson(notes) has five goals in eight games, one in each
of the last two. He leads the team with 19 goals, but has none in seven games
versus Montreal.